Registrations are open for ‘Overload 2020’ a two day intensive training camp for Junior Canoe Polo players being held in Mullingar Harbour (https://mullingarcanoepolo.com) on 15th and 16th August 2020. Players between 8 and 18 are welcome – you must be a member of Canoeing Ireland or CANI.
The weekend promises to be a packed with learning, polo skills development, game play and a lot of fun.
To find out more and register click here
Per announcement by the government last week, we note that from June 29th (subject to Government Approval to enter Phase 3), the following applies :
‘Close Contact Sports are allowed – this means Polo training, games and matches can be played in ROI
Outdoor gatherings of up to 200 (and 500 from July 20th) are allowed
Off the water – Social distancing, Hygiene and Contact Tracing guidelines remain in place. If your club did not take part in the recent Canoeing ireland COVID free workshops, , you should ensure that club organisers and Coaches inform themselves, by for example taking this course https://www.sportireland.ie/covid19/course
Club houses. Some of you have asked whether Club boat houses, changing rooms etc. can be re-opened from the 29th, we have asked for clarification and will advise when we get confirmation. In any event, please remember that Social Distancing and Hygiene guidelines remain in place.
There are a myriad of documents floating around from HSPC, HSE, Government sources, many are undated and some are now out of date – THIS is the most recent high level document put out by government and the one on which we have based the above summary.
The priority at all times must be to protect the health and welfare of all those involved in Canoe Polo, their families and the wider community. Polo clubs are all run by volunteers and everyone has a responsibility to play a part in minimizing the risk.
Please following canoe.ie/covid for resources and further updates from Canoeing Ireland
Events
We are working to (re) schedule the following National Events.
Overload! – August 15th and 16th at Mullingar Harbour
Club Championships – (rescheduled) – will hope this will now take place 22nd and 23rd August at Mullingar Harbour (subject to Waterways Ireland Confirmation)
Irish Open – (will be rescheduled) – will be moved to September in Belfast (subject to confirmation, and NI Covid-19 Protocols)
COVID 19 – Phase 2 impact for Canoe Polo
As we enter Phase 2, the Government Expert Group, Canoeing Ireland and HSE have published documents all relevant to our sport (references below)
We summarise below the major impact for Canoe Polo players and clubs during Phase 2 commencing Monday 8th June, 2020.
TRAINING ACTIVITY ONLY – Phase 2 allows goup training, but NOT Polo matches or gameplay. So in practical terms this means paddling drills, fitness drills or ball drills where each player has their own unshared ball. All participants must be able to self rescue so no beginners.
CONTACT TRACING – You can now train in groups of up to 15, to include coaches. Club organisers/group leaders should keep a log of all training session attendees, including contact details, to facilitate contact tracing if necessary.
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND HYGIENE – Nothing has changed in terms of the requirement to be at least 2 meters apart on and off the water. This means no boat to boat contact or tackling drills. All participants should adhere to the existing guidelines on hand and respiratory hygiene. Wash or sanitise hands prior to training and immediately after. Cover your nose and mouth if sneezing or coughing.
GOING TRAINING – You are allowed to travel to training anywhere in your county (or outside your county subject to a maximum of 20km). Do not share the transport to training with others outside your household. Do not congregate before or after training – 2m social distancing to be maintained at all times. Do not train if you feel unwell or become unwell during training.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT – Sharing of equipment should be avoided.
PHASE 3 – Phase 3 details have not yet been announced. The Government expert group is working with NGBs and will provide further Return to Play guidelines as we near phase 3 & 4.
For your reference here are supporting documents with more detail on each of the above.
Canoeing Ireland – Return an Paddling – https://canoe.ie/2020/05/13/return-to-paddling-guidelines/
Government Appointed Expert Group on Sport (6th June) – https://www.sportireland.ie/sites/default/files/media/document/2020-06/expert-group-on-return-to-sport-guidance-document.pdf
HSE – more detail on social distancing and Hygiene – https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
As the COVID19 restrictions are gradually eased, we hope to be able to resume some Canoe Polo activities over the summer, but not just yet. https://www.facebook.com/canoepoloireland/posts/3514877158529295
Phase 1 in the Government guidelines allows some limited personal paddling activity to recommence. Please see attached guidance from Canoeing Ireland on getting back in the water for general paddling.
From 18th May this allows
– Groups of up to 4
– 2m social distancing on and off the water
– Observe hygiene rules
– No use of shared/club equipment or a shared ball
– Paddling only (no Polo drills, games or team sport)
– Flat Water paddling only, near bank/shoreline
– Must be able to self rescue
– Do not travel beyond 5km from your home
– Do not use changing rooms
– Please read the full document for further information that may be relevant to you
We are bringing a group of Junior players aged 15 upwards to an intensive training camp in Lithuania next June.
If you’re child would like to participate, please read these details and email develop@canoepolo.ie
THE CAMP
This one week camp is for ambitious young players aged 15+ who want to improve their skills over an intensive weeks training in Daugai, Lithuania.
The camp will be attended by junior players from Lithuania, Poland and Ireland.
The coaching will be led by Reno (Rimvydas Insoda) and his Lithuanian and Polish counterparts.
Junior Development volunteers will act as trip leaders.
The camp will run for 5 days followed by a 1 day competition.
WHO IS IT FOR ? Participants must …
– turn 15 or older in 2020 (be born in 2005 or before). Younger players who have played at Division 2 level will be considered.
– be keen to improve your Canoe Polo skills
– be ready to work hard for the week and have a positive attitude to long days of training 😊
– be able to follow direction from coaches and leaders.
– commit to participation in 3 Junior Development days prior to attending
– be Canoeing Ireland members
Places are limited. We will do our best to accommodate everyone meeting the criteria above but will give priority to those who best meet the criteria.
VENUE/LOCATION
Daugai is a small town (population 1500), 22km east of Alytus in the south of Lithuania.
The training will take place on the lake at the local Canoe Polo Club.
Daugai is a safe secluded location. The participants will walk to all activities at the lake, training grounds and canoe polo pitches.
Accomodation will be in a 70 room hostel, with children sharing 3 or 4 to a room.
COST
The total cost to include flights, accomodation, equipment transport, meals is estimated at €600. 50% payable before end of January.
If parents step forward we will support them to organise some fundraising which could reduce this cost.
Children will not need much pocket money as all meals are included.
Polo Kayaks will be provided by the camp organisers, but you will bring your own helmet/Paddle.
APPLY
To register your interest or for questions, email develop@canoepolo.ie before 13th January.
Learn to Coach Canoe Polo – Courses for Club VolunteersAre you a player, parent or volunteer looking to help make Canoe Polo a success in your Club ? |
We are getting ready to startup the Junior Development Programme for 2019. Here are some important dates for your diary…
Junior Development Days
We will be organising a number of development days for players age 9-18 of all skill levels, including beginners from any club. If your club has younger players just starting out they would be very welcome to get involved.
The dates are as follows
* Saturday March 9th, 2019 – Mullingar
* Sunday April 7th, 2019 – Mullingar
* Sunday May 12th, 2019 – Kilcock
* Saturday June 1st, 2019 – Mullingar
* Sunday July 21st, 2019 – Kilcock
* August 17th & 18th – Overload! Mullingar
This year we want to put a particular emphasis on getting new players into our sport and are encouraging younger players from aged 9 upwards to come along and avail of the development days.
Overload! our two-day canoe polo camp returns to Mullingar again on 17-18 August in Mullingar. The format will be similar to last year with a couple of twists. More details and booking form to follow.
Kilcock is running a one-day Junior competition on 22nd June.
Again, if your club isn’t fielding a team but you would like to play, let us know and we will match you up with a club looking for a player.
The Belfast Junior International will take place from 31st July until Sunday 4th August, promising to be a another world class event, with clubs expected from over 20 countries at the Lets Go Hydro centre.
This year, NCPC/Junior Development Programme is not running a Squad selection process – all teams will be Club teams, so everyone of an appropriate age has a chance to participate if they wish – your club will be responsible for selecting and entering teams.
However, if you would like to play on an under 15 or under 18 team and your club is not participating, let us know at the first Development Day (March 9th) and we will find you a team.
Just a couple of days to go to the 2018 Irish Open…
Schedule & Rules
– Timetable and Rules available here … http://canoepolo.ie/irish-open
– Updates will be posted to that page.
– Please study the entire timetable (not just your division), as you may be on Table Duty or Refereeing a lower division than the one you have entered.
– There is a separate tab for each Division.
Captains and Referees – IMPORTANT !
– Captains & Referees are to assemble at 8.00am on Saturday Morning at the Boathouse in the Harbour for a meeting with the Head Referee(Sean Downes) and Organisers.
– A number of steps are being taken to improve Refereeing and Player Discipline. Your Captain and Referees MUST attend this meeting.
– Under competition rules, if your Captain and Referees do not attend, your team will start your first game 1-0 down. If you have an insurmountable reason why you cannot attend (e.g. flight arrival time), please email develop@canoepolo.com looking for a written waiver.
CI Numbers – ALSO IMPORTANT !!
Per my previous email a couple of teams have still not replied with their player CI numbers. Canoeing Ireland Insurance requires that we check these numbers so unfortunately unless you provide these before the competition, your team will not be playing 🙁
Pitches
· Div 1, 2 and U14 games will be played in the Harbour (pitches 1 and 2)
· Div 3 games will be played above the bridge (pitch 3).
Parking
· On Saturday, please do NOT park in the ‘TopLine’ hardware store car-park on the bridge, or down the Cul de Sac near the bridge.
· There is parking along the Harbour, and in the Railway station car park and in the car parks on the north (town) side of the harbour. There is also a lot of free space at the old Kellys Garage site.
Toilets
· Toilets are at the Scouts Hall, which you can access by going down the steps near Pitch 3.
Food
· Free Tea and Coffee will be available in the Scouts hall 10am-4.30pm each day. You can access this by going down the steps near Pitch 3.
· On Saturday we will have free Soup and Rolls available between 11am and 3pm in the Scouts hall.
· On Sunday we will have a free Barbecue between 12pm and 2pm.
· Sunday Barbecue location will be advised – depending on weather !
Camping
· Camping is at the Kilcock GAA Club . Google Map Location : https://goo.gl/maps/Mcb9XzhCden
· There will be onsite security at night time only – DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES UNATTENDED
· Under 18s are not to camp unaccompanied.
· If you intend to avail of the free camping but have not let me know, please do so now.
First-Aid Contact
· Every pitch has a pitch manager, if you need first-aid or have any other query, please alert the pitch manager who will organize first-aid/assistance.
Restaurants
· Kilcock GAA/Camping site has a restaurant and bar.
· O’Keefes (on the harbour) – pub food – Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday 11am-9pm
· Blackforest bakery (on the Harbour) Saturday 9am-5pm
· Timeless Café (opposite Tesco – in Kilcock Village) Sat 9am-5pm, Sunday 9am – 4pm
· Rye River Café (near Supervalu –The Square, Kilcock Village) – Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 9.30am-2.30pm
· Costa Coffee (near Supervalu – The Square, Kilcock Village) Saturday and Sunday 7am – 7pms
It’s here – the all new CanoePolo.ie
As part of our plan to develop Canoe Polo, increase visibility of our sport, and improve communication, we’ve revamped the CanoePolo.ie website.
The goals of the redesign are firstly, to showcase our sport, explain it to potential new players, volunteers and sponsors. Secondly to serve as a source of information on events, programmes and other resources for polo players in Ireland.
Look across the site menu and explore the sections …
Competitions – this section is where you will find details of all upcoming events and details of how to enter your team in national and club competitions. There’s also information here on the leagues which run over the winter. If your league or competition is not listed here, please email comps@canoepolo.ie
Development – details of our National Junior Development programme, and information on Clubs that play Canoe Polo.
Squads – information on our International Team Ireland Squads.
Refereeing – Game Rules and details of how to get graded as a qualified referee. The content in this section will build over time.
About – Information about the game in Ireland, and the National Polo Committee, part of Canoeing Ireland.
Calendar – contains an overview of all events (competitions, squads, development) that Irish players are participating in nationally and internationally.
News – major news and updates – we will continue to provide all updates to Facebook, with major items and posts that contain reference information being posted on the website
Also on the home page you will see links to
Signup for Updates – enter your email in order to be kept up to date on Canoe Polo Ireland events and updates. You will receive a confirmation email and can unsubscribe at any time.
Find a Club – here you can find details of all Clubs that are involved in Canoe Polo listed and on a map so you can find a club near you. If you run a club that is engaged in Canoe Polo and want to update the information about your club, email details to develop@canoepolo.ie
Hope you find the site a big improvement – this is an important part of our efforts to develop Canoe Polo in Ireland and attract new players and partners to our sport.
If you have feedback on the site please email sec@canoepolo.ie.
Here is an update on upcoming competitions and national events over the next couple of months in the Irish Canoe Polo Calendar.
Belfast Argento Cup – this one day competition on August 3rd for Juniors is the second competition in the Argento Sponsorship, following on from the Kilcock Junior competition earlier this year. Find out more and register your teams here.
Club Championships – This years club champs is run by Royal Canal Kayak Club in Phibsborough on 11th and 12th August. Find out more.
Kilcock One Day Competition – this one day competition has Div 1, 2 and 3 and will be similar format to the one day competition in July. Register your team here.
Junior Development Weekend in Mullingar, 1st and 2nd September. This is open to any junior who can paddle and promises to be an exciting event in the new venue of Mullingar Harbour.
and of course…
The 2018 Irish Open, which will take place in Kilcock on 29th and 30th September.
To stay up to date check the Canoe Polo Ireland calendar
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